Sealing closure for bottles



April 16, 1935. M, KAY 1,998,408

SEALING CLOSURE FOR BOTTLES FiledMay 9, 1954 WITNESS INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Patented Apr. 16, 1935 UNITED STATES #PATENT OFFICE Murray Kay, New York, N. assigner to Steel` Band Closure Co., Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application May 9, 1934, serial No. '124,642

14. Claims. (Cl. 21S-95) g enerdbyan annular scoring f3 intermediate the This invention relates. to''.improvements in bottle seals .and has for its .object to pro-vide a simple, inexpensive and practical device of this character which will prevent .tamper-ing with the 5 contents of the bottle from the time the bottle leaves the bottling .establishment until it reaches the consumer. A further `-objectof the invention is lto provide a deyiceof this character which will, in part, remain permanently associated with the bottle in .such manner that :the bottle cannot be .refilled with a substitute of the `original product and sold to the purchaser as the .genuine article. Other objects as well as .thenovel details ofthe construction of .a bottle seal .embodying the invention will become .apparent after a consideration of the description .hereirrbelow :set forth taken kin :conjunction with .the accompanying drawing in which similar refer-.ence characters identify .similar parts in 'the several views and in which Fig. lfshows inrelevation the top portion of .a bottle :provided with .a seal made lin accordance with the invention; Fig. '2 is .a central vertical sec- .tion thereof taken along the line 2--2 .of Fig. l; Eig. I3 'is a horizontal `section taken along the line 3-3 -o'f Fig. 2; Fig. 4 showsv in :elevation the top vportion .of .a bottle embodying a modified form of the invention; Fig. l5 isa :central vertical section of .the seal shown .in Fig. 4; and .6 is a horizontal .section taken'along line (Q -6 fof Fig. `el. Referring .more particularly to Figs. 1,'2 and 3 '.of the drawing, .the reference character- I desig- `nates the neck vof a bottle Which is provided with -a seal .made in accordance with 'the preferred Iform `of .the invention. Closelyadjacent to the top por-tion of .the neck :of the bottle is a relatively deep annular groove 2 formed between lthe lannular beads 3 and 4. The continuity of the v'groove '2 about the neck of the bottle is broken kby apartition of glass' which extends transversely across the groove, vas .shown in Figs; 2 and 3, and is formed integrally with the inner Wall of the groove and thefbeads 3 and ll. The partition of Aglass 5 is `covered over with a blab 'or knob l6 of glass Whichspansthe annular beads 3 4and 4 and `is integrally formed with such Vbeads and the partitions f5. The knob of glass .6 is suiiiciently wide *to arch overa Aportion-of the groove 2 oneach side of the partition 5 forming a recess `on `each -side of the glass partition 5.

Coveringkthe -top portion of the neck of the bottle 'and extending below the groove-"2 is a 'destructible sealing element or closure cap 1. 'The closure `cap 'l may be madeof cellulose, metal foil, or any other suitable material such as `is ordinari-ly used for this purpose and may hel weak- :groove 2 .and 'the open end of .the .bottle so that the vtop portion thereof may be readily 'removed .to .open the bottl.

Seated in the groove :2 .and'encircling the closurevcap is .a substantially heavy metal split band or ring 19 of vsuch .diameter that it Wedges an annular portion of the closure cap 'l tightly againstthe innerwall .of the groove .2.V The split ring .9 is .of .sufficient circumference so that the .end portions thereof ar-.e .containedwithin the recesses'fornicd on each .side of the partition 5, the ends thereof preferably. abutting against yeach side :of .the partition, as `shown in fFig. .3. The

4ring 9 may abe (of any desired thickness .and may etten be .of vsuicient :thickness to protrude beyond the edges .of .the annular beads 3 andll. I prefer, however, to make the thickness .of the ring less than the .depth of the ygroove :2 formed between the annular :beads .3 .and .4 so that the ring is entirely contained Within such groove. The .outer edges im and Il of ring e9 :and .the .edges 12 and I3 .of the beads .3 and .4 respectively .are rounded .or otherwise .suitably .shaped so l.that va chisel or other sharp tool cannot get a purchase ron the Aedges of the ring 9 Athereby preventing .the Jremoval of the ring the groove 2 by such means. The lwidth fof the ring should I.be also @such that .it fitssnugly in :the groove 2 thereby .presenting no :space :between .the sides of the ring .and the sides of .the .beads :3 and 1i -whereby .a tool might be inserted. 4The ring is made :of a strong, hard .metal such as steel. I preferably, however, .make the ring-out y.of case-hardened steel which `is Isufciently 'hard and .strongto make it exceed- :ingly difficult and impractical .to attemptto drill 'the ring xor :to pry outthe .ends of the ringA from the recesses .on each side of the partition a5. If .anyone .attempted to pry a .ring .of :this .character .out :of y.the groove, the force that would be re.- -quired to accomplish `this .purpose would :be mafter-iallygreaterthan the glass iin the Abottle .could stand, .so :that 'the glass bottle would unquestionably break. Thus '1b-y reason :of this construction it is practically.- impossible to remove the ring 9 from the groove .2 and it 'is to all .practical initents and purposes, a permanent `part of Athe bottle Before the closure 'l and the ring 9 are mount- -ed on the "neck of the bottle the flanged cork I4 best suited for'theaparticular -type of closure used.

The split ring 9, which has been sufficiently spread apart to allow it to clear the Widest part of the bottle neck is then placed in position on the bottle neck and squeezed by a plier or other instrument into position in the groove so that the open ends of the steel band lit into the small recesses beneath the blab of glass 6 and close up to the sides `of the partition of glass directly behind the blab portion 6. The ring is squeezed sufliciently tight in'place so that it vtightly wedges the portion of the closure cap in the groove against the inner wall of the groove 2 thereby permanently maintaining thatportion' of the closure in place on the bottle and preventing anyone from mounting a'new closure cap-,on the bottle. It will be thus seen'thatV the abovedescribed arrangement provides the bottle With a double seal which will prevent 'anyone tamperingwith the contents of the bottle since Ait is exceedingly diicult and impractical to remove the permanent seal or ring 9 to place a new destructible seal or closure on the bottle. and that portion of the closure Which is permanently maintained in the external groove by the ring 9 will serve as notice to the customer that the bottle originally was provided with a destructible seal and that the contents thereof had been tampered with. .f

To open the bottle allone has to do is to tear off the upper portionof the closure cap l, the annular scoring B directly above the steel band S facilitating this operation. The cork i4 may then be taken out and replaced at will. However, while the upper portion of the closure cap l has been destroyed, the remainder of the closure stays lodged in the groove 2, being held permanently therein by the steel ring 2 which wedges it tightly up against the inner Wall of the groove. As the steel ring can never be removed or taken on, a new closure cap cannot .be put on the bottle andas the bottle, by reason of this condition, cannot be recapped, it is rendered useless to anyone who wishes to insert spurious products in such bottle for sale to the public and must be thrown away. v

In a modified form of the invention, as shown in Figs, 4, 5 and 6, the glass partition 5 and the blab or knob of glass 6 of Vthe preferred form of the invention may be omitted so that the groove is continuous about the neck of the bottle. In the modified construction illustrated, the ring 2l consists of two pieces, the ends of which are Welded together. The abutting ends of the two pieces are shaped in any suitable manner, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, to facilitate the welding of the pieces into a solid annular band which Y will t snugly and tightly in theannular, groove 25. It is, of course, understood that the ring 2l may be made in one piece as is ring 9 and mounted in the annular groove 20 in the same manner as is the ring S, the ends however being Welded together when the ring is in position in such groove to form a solid annular band. The outer edges of the ring 2l and the edges of the beads 22 and 23 which form the groove 20 are also-suitably shaped as in the preferred form o f the invention, to prevent anyone from removing the ring from the groove by means of a chisel or other sharp tool. y

The neck 24 of the bottle in Figs. .4 and 5 is shown provided with a screw thread 25upon which is screwed the metal cap or cover 2S. The closure cap l is inserted over the cap 'l and anchored in the groove 2i]` by means of the ring 2l in the same manner as thepreferred construction. It is of course obvious that any of the conventional types of corks or caps may be used for closing the bottle.

While I have shown and described the ring S in the preferred form of the invention as being made of one piece, it is obvious that it may consist of two pieces as in the modified construction, one end of each piece being Welded together when the parts are placed in the groove to provide a single piece. I may also make the rings 9 and 2| ojfvmore than two pieces provided With suitably shaped ends so that they can be readily and strongly Welded together on the bottles. I have also found that I obtain a ring of suicient strength for the purposes of the invention by providing thev ends of the pieces with oppositely disposed grooves or depressions and Wedging a connecting piece in such oppositely disposed grooves or depressions by force.

The closure cap 1 may of course be made of sheet metal, phenol plastic compounds or other suitable materials which Will satisfactorily serve the purposes of the invention. The closure may be made so that the top portion will serve as the cover for the bottle after it has been separated from the lower portion or skirt of the closure cap, said portion being preferably provided with a thread which screws on the neck ofthe bottle. I may also make the closure of more than one piece which can be inserted in place on ther bottle before the sealing ring is .placed in position.

or containers containing liquids, wines, beverages,

perfumes, foodstuffs, pharmaceutical products, drugs,.toilet preparations, remedies or other similar products. The permanently'mounted bands of the invention are especially adapted to carry a trade-mark, code or manufacturers or Government serial number, thereby making it extremely diiicult to make imitation ycontainers for fraudulent purposes. The construction of the sealing closure also makes it possible to aix Government stamps and seals on bottles or containers so that they wont come off. The stamps or seals maybe attached to the bottle before a transparent closure cap and the steel band are put on the bottle or else placed over the cap in such manner that it is held in place by the steel band.

I'claim:

1. In combination, a bottle having an external groove in the neck portion thereof, a destructible closure cap sealing the open end of said bottle and extending below said groove, a partition extending transversely of said groove, a covering element for said partition spanning said groove, said covering element being su'iciently wide to form a recess on each side of said partition, and aAsplit ring surrounding a portion of said cap and positioned in said groove, the ends of said ring being positioned in the recesses formed on each side of said partition.

2. In combination, a bottle having an external groove in the neck portion thereof, a destructible closure cap sealing the open end of said bottle and extending below said groove, a partition extending transversely of said groove, a covering element spanning said groove and covering said partition, said covering element being suiicientvthe result ofthe prying pressure as to be incapable of further 7use, and a stop positioned in said groove and adapted to cooperate with said band to prely wide to form a'recessoneach side 'of s'aidpartition, said bottle, partition and covering element being integrally formedyand a'split metal ring surrounding` a portion of said cap and 'positioned infsaid groove, the endsl oifsaidr ring :beingpoisitio'ned in'therece'sses formed-on` each 1`side of said partition. y. .1 f. .f

3. In combination, a bottle having an external groove in' the neck portion thereof, a destruotible closure cap sealing the open end of said bottle and extending below said groove, a partition extending transversely of said groove, a covering element spanning said groove and covering said partition, lsaid covering element being sufliciently wide to form a recess on each side of said partition, said bottle, partition and covering element being integrally formed, and a split metal ring surrounding a portion of said cap and positioned in said groove, the open ends of said ring being positioned in the recesses formed on each side of said partition, said ring being of such diameter that it wedges the portion of said cap in said groove tightly against the inner wall thereof so as to maintain said portion of the cap permanently in said groove.

4. In combination, a container having a groove in the outer surface thereof, a closure cap sealing the open end of said container and extending below said groove, said cap being weakened by an annular scoring intermediate said groove and the open yend ofsaid container whereby that portion of the cap above the groove may be removed to open the container, and a bandsurrounding a portion of said cap and permanently positioned in said groove, said band being of such diameter that it wedges the portion of the cap in said groove tightly against the inner wall thereof so as to maintain said portion of `the cap permanently in said groove.

5. In combination, a bottle having a closure cap over the open end thereof, a destructible sealing element sealing said closure cap on said bottle, an annular band encircling the neck of said bottle and surrounding a portion of said sealing element and adapted to prevent the substitution of another sealing element for the one on said bottle, said band being composed of relatively strong metallic material and having such rigidity of constitution and form that on application of prying pressure applied between the wall of the bottle, and the inner periphery of the band, the bandwill maintain its shape and position until the bottle is so deformed or destroyed as a result of the prying pressure as to be incapable of further use, and means for irremovably positioning said band on the bottle; said means being adapted to hold said band in non-rotatable relation with respect to said bottle in the sealed and unsealed condition of the latter.

6. In combination, a bo-ttle having an external groove in the neck portion thereof, a closure for said bottle, a destructible sealing element sealing said closure on said bottle and extending below said groove, and a band covering a portion of said sealing element and positioned in said groove and adapted to cooperate with said groove to prevent the substitution of another sealing element for the one sealing sai-d closure in the bottle, said band being composed of relatively strong material and having such rigidity of constitution and form that on application of prying pressure applied between the wall of the bottle and the inner periphery of the band, the band will maintain its groove-occupying shape and position until the bottle is so deformed or destroyed as vent rotational movement of the latter in said groove. y

. .7,'The'combinaton set forth in claim 6, in-

cluding a permanently positioned covering ele- .ment overlyingV the stop in said groove. 1 8.-'.In combination, a container having. an external groove positioned below the mouth thereof, a closure for said container, a double seal for said container, one of said seals comprising a destructible sealing element sealing sai-d closure on the container and extending to a position below said groove, a portion of said sealing element lying in said groove, the second seal comprising a substantially heavy, indestructible and non-removable member positioned in said groove and sealing therein the portion of the first mentioned seal lying in said groove, so that said portion of the rst mentioned seal remains beneath said second mentioned seal when the rst mentioned seal is broken to remove the closure.

9. In combination, a container having an external groove positioned below the mouth thereof,

a closure for said container, a double seal for said y container, one of said seals comprising a destructible sealing element sealing said closure on the container and extending to a position below said groove, a portion of said sealing element lying in said groove, the second seal comprising a substantially heavy, indestructible and non-removable member positioned in said groove, said second sealing member having been applied over the portion of the first sealing member lying in said groove and having a close iit within said groove with respect to the interior wall thereof so that the insertion of a new rst sealing member beneath said second sealing member is precluded.

10. In combination, a container having an external groove positioned below the mouth thereof, a closure for said container, a double seal for said container, one of said seals comprising a destructible sealing element sealing said closure on the container and extending to a position below said groove, a portion of said sealing element lying in said groove, the second sealing element comprising a substantially heavy, indestructible and non-removable metal band positioned in said groove and sealing therein the portion of the destructible sealing element lying in said groove so that said portion remains beneath said band when the destructible sealing element is broken to remove the closure, said band being so dimensioned with relation to said groove that the insertion of a new destructible sealing element beneath said band is precluded.

11, In combination, a container having a relatively deep external groove positioned below the mouth thereof, a closure for 'said container, a double seal for said'container, one of said seals comprising a destructible sealing element sealing said closure on the container and extending to a position below said groove, a portion of said sealing element lying in said groove, the second sealing element comprising a band permanently positioned in said groove and overlying that portion of the destructible sealing element lying in saidA groove, said band being so dimensioned with relation to said groove that the insertion of a new destructible sealing element beneath said band is precluded and having such rigidity of constitution and form that on application of prying pressure applied between the wall of the container and the inner periphery of the band, the band Will maintain its groove occupying shape and position until the containen is so deformed or destroyed as the result of the prying pressure as to be incapable of further use.

12. A combination such as dened in claim 11,

i in which the band is composed of case-hardened metallic material. Y Y

13. A combination such as defined in claim 11, in which the band is composed of a plurality of NIURRAY KAY. 

